Biographies
Biographical Sketches
M-P
From Goodspeed's 1889 History of Camden County
George W. Miller, postmaster and merchant at Linn Creek, and son of
Samuel D. and Aultana J. (Stevens) Miller, was born in Camden county,
Mo., August 17, 1852. His father was a native of Overton county,
Tenn., and his mother of Wake county, N. C. Samuel D. Miller immigra-
ted to St. Louis, Mo., from Kentucky with his mother about the year
1833, where they remained only a few years. In about 1837 they removed
to Camden county, where they were among the first settlers. He located
on Shawnee Bend, where he resided some time, and then entered and
bought large tracts of land. He lived at the time of his death in
Jasper Township, near the mouth of the Glaize. He was a farmer by
occupation, and died in 1876. The mother died February 12, 1886. They
were the parents of ten children, seven now living: Sarah, wife of
Edmund Spearman; Mary, wife of John C. Earp; Ann E., George W. and John
R. (twins), William J., and Theresa C., wife of Thomas E. Ezard. G. W.
Miller attained his growth and received his education in Camden county,
Mo. He was reared on the farm, which occupation he followed until 1882
when he engaged in the mercantile business at Cape Galena, Morgan
county, with Jesse W. Caffey, remaining with him for two years. In
1884 he engaged with Owen A. Nelson in merchandising, and the firm was
known as Miller & Nelson for about one year, when the former bought out
Mr. Nelson and carried on the business alone until December, 1887, when
David Moulder purchased a half interest, and the firm has since contin-
ued as Miller & Moulder. They carry a general line of merchandise, and
are wide awake, enterprising business men. Mr. Miller was appointed
postmaster in January, 1888. He was appointed county treasurer to fill
a vacancy, and held the position for seven months. In April, 1884, he
married Miss Florence M., daughter of Frank M. King, by whom he had two
children, both deceased. Mr. Miller now owns an interest in the old
home farm, and 200 acres of unimproved land. He also owns property in
Linn Creek, and is one of the leading and intelligent citizens of
Camden county. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a
Democrat in his political views.
David Moulder, merchant and one of the pioneers of Camden county, Mo.,
was born in Grainger county, Tenn., May 25, 1840, and is the son of
Valentine and Ann (Yaden) Moulder, both natives of Grainger county,
Tenn., and of Itailian and German descent. The paternal grandfather
was an early settler of Tennessee. Valentine Moulder was a farmer by
occupation, and immigrated with his family to Camden county, Mo., in
1842. He came through in wagons, and located in Osage township, about
seven miles northwest of Linn Creek. He entered about 200 acres of
land, with about five acres cleared, on which was a little log cabin,
which is still standing. He set to work to improve his place, and soon
had a number of acres under cultivation. On this farm he remained
until his death, which occurred in 1862. The mother died in 1852.
They were the parents of nine children, three now living: David, Mary
E. (wife of T. P. Groom) and Bertha R. (wife of C. M. Piercy). The
father represented Camden county in the Legislature two terms, 1852 and
1856; held the office of county judge for about four years, and was a
very prominent man in this county. He had a host of friends. His son,
David Moulder, was two years of age when he came to Camden county, Mo.,
with his parents, and thus it may be seen that he has been identified
with the interests of Camden county almost all his life. He received
his education in the old subscription schools, and was obliged to walk
three and one-half miles to attend the same, the school house being of
log, with a hole for a door and a crack for a window. He assisted on
the farm, and when the late war broke out he enlisted in the Missouri
Militia and served three years. He was engaged in several hard skirm-
ishes, and had one hair-breath escape, a ball passing through his hat
brim. At the close of the war he engaged in merchandising at Linn
Creek, which vocation he has since continued, and is the oldest merch-
ant at Linn Creek. He sold goods ten years at Richland, Pulaski
county. Mr. Moulder carries a general line of merchandise, and now
owns Gov. McClurg's old mansion, which was built under the Governor's
supervision thirty-five years ago. He also owns the farm, consisting
of 300 acres. Mr. Moulder was elected county treasurer in 1874, and
re-elected in 1876, and resigned in 1877 on account of his removal to
Richland. He was married in 1865 to Miss Sallie Selby, by whom he has
ten children living: Ellen, Jessie L., Cora M., Thomas V., Charles,
George C., John D.,Elect E., Emma M. and Sallie. Mr. Moulder is a
member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a stanch Democrat politically.
Hon. Thomas H. B. Moulder, farmer, was born in Camden county, Mo.,
August 12, 1844, being a son of George W. and Ann (Yaden) Moulder, who
were born in Tennessee, and immigrated to Missouri about 1831, and six
years later to Camden county, locating on the fork of the Big and
Little Nianguas. The father was judge of the county courts for some
years, and was a prosperous farmer and stockman. Hon. Thomas H. B.
Moulder has always resided on a farm in his native county, and by good
management and industry has become the owner of a tract of land consis-
ting of 400 acres, with about 150 acres under cultivation, and on which
are some very valuable improvements. His farm is mostly bottom land,
and is well adapted to raising stock, which occupation receives much of
Mr. Moulder's attention. The postoffice of Cave Pump is located at his
residence, and he fills the duties of postmaster, and in 1882 served
one term as a member of the State Legislature. In 1878 he was elected
to the office of county assessor, and was re-elected in 1880, filling
the duties of all of these offices in a very efficient manner and to
the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Nancy E. Foster, a native
of Camden county, became his wife in 1866, and the mother of his nine
children, eight of whom are living: Frederick J., Hattie L., Juliett,
Sidney, Ann E., George A., Bettie and John P. In 1862 Mr. Moulder
enlisted in Company D, Twenty-ninth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and
served nearly three years. He was at Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, and was
captured at Greenville, Miss., by the rebels, and was kept a prisoner
at Pine Buff, Ark., and Little Rock. After being paroled and exchanged
he rejoined his regiment at Corinth, Miss., and participated in several
skirmishes near Tuscumbia, Ala., and Iuka, Miss., and at the battle of
Lookout Mountain was wounded by a gunshot in the left foot, which
necessitated his being taken to the hospital, where he remained nine
months. He was then transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, with
which he remained for about nine months, being stationed at Camp Doug-
las, Chicago, and received his discharge in July, 1865. He is now a
member of the G. A. R., and draws a pension for his wound; he has been
a member of the Masonic fraternity for many years.
Owen A. Nelson, county treasurer of Camden county, Mo., was born in
Posey county, Ind., August 29, 1854, and is the son of Alexander G. and
Sarah A. (Highman) Nelson, the former a native of Posey county, Ind.,
and the latter of Iowa. The father was a blacksmith by trade, but
never followed it for a livelihood, for farming was his principal occu-
pation. He left Indiana at the beginning of the late war, and went to
White county, Ill., where he remained until 1868, when he moved with
his family to Camden county, Mo., and located near Linn Creek, where he
died in 1881. The mother is still living. They were the parents of
four children, all sons: Owen A., John W., George W. and Grant. Owen
A. Nelson was but a small lad when his parents moved to White county,
Ill. He assisted his father on the farm until 1868, when he came to
Missouri, locating in Camden county, where he has since made his home.
He was elected treasurer of Camden county in 1886, and re-elected in
1888. He is a prominent citizen of the county. He was married in 1876
to Miss Mary A. Russell, by whom he had two children: William G. and
George E. Mrs. Nelson died in 1881, and he married for his second wife
February 1, 1883, Miss Amanda J. Scofield, a native of Iowa, who bore
him one child, Hugh R. Mrs. Nelson is a member of the Baptist Church,
and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the I. O. O. F. His
grandfather Nelson was an early settler of Posey County, Indiana.
James J. O'Halloran, a successful farmer and stockman of Camden county,
Mo., was born July 28, 1861, and is a son of Maj. Thomas O'Halloran,
whose sketch precedes this. He was reared on his father's farm, and
received his education in a subscription school, which was conducted at
their residence, and also attended the high school of Richland. When
about eighteen years of age he began farming for himself, and November
27, 1887, was wedded to Miss Jessie Moulder, a daughter of David Moulder,
a sketch of whom is herein given. Mrs. O'Halloran was born at Linn
Creek in 1870, and is the mother of one child, Bessie. Mr. O'Halloran
has a large tract of land, with about 115 acres under cultivation, all
of which is the result of his own energy and good management; he also
has a fine residence and substantial out buildings. In connection with
farming he is engaged in stock raising to some extent, and like his
father supports the principles of the Republican party.
Maj. Thomas O'Halloran was born in the "Emerald Isle" in 1827, and
there resided until 1848, when he immigrated to the United States with
his brothers, Maurice and James, and his sister, Eliza. After landing
in New York City they remained there three of four months, and then
went to Chicago, where the sister died in the fall of 1848. The bro-
thers then came to Missouri, Maurice and James locating in St. Charles
county, on a farm, where the former died a short time after. James is
now living in Pulaski county. Maj. Thomas O'Halloran remained in St.
Louis until about 1856, where he was engaged in the pork packing house
of Murphy, McClurg & Co.; then he came to his present farm, which he
had purchased the previous year, and which he has resided ever since,
with the exception of a short time during the late war. He enlisted
as a private in the Forty-seventh Enrolled Militia, and August 12, 1862
was commissioned captain of a company he organized, and September 18,
1862, rose to the rank of major, and afterward to lieutenant-colonel of
the Forty-seventh Regiment. He resigned in 1864, after doing honorable
and active service. In the fall of 1863, while at home on furlough to
put up his winter's meat, a party of six men rode up and inquired of
his family the way to Mineral Point, Linn Creek and Tuscumbia. Soon
after they left the house the Major though something was not right, and
mounted his horse and started after them. When he reached them they
asked him which of the three roads led to Linn Creek. He told them not
to matter about the roads, but to consider themselves under arrest as
prisoners; to which one of them, who afterward proved to be Maj. Rucker
of the Confederate army, replied that he thought it rather cool for one
man to take six men; but Maj. O'Halloran marched them down the road,
single file, for about a miles and half, where he secured help to dis-
arm them, and found on their persons over 300 letters for Southern
sympathizers in Northern Missouri and St. Louis. For this act of
bravery the Major received a vote of thanks from the State Senate, and
won the respect and admiration of all his friends. He came to the home
place when the war was over, and has since been actively engaged in
improving his farm of 440 acres, and has 150 acres in a fine state of
cultivation. December 28, 1858, he was married in Linn Creek, by Lewis
Coy, to Miss Frances M. Murphy, by whom he became the father of eight
children, two being deceased: William D., who died at the age of six
years, and Thomas W., whose death occurred when twenty-three years old.
Those living are Edwin C., James, Mary E. (wife of Berry Hendricks),
Fannie B., John M. and Katie F. Mr. O'Halloran is a Republican in
politics.
William Osborn, general merchant at Mack's Creek, Camden County, Mo.,
was born in Scott County, W. Va., in 1831, his parents, Stephen and
Lavisa (Bledsoe) Osborn, being natives of Virginia, born in 1802 and
1806, and died in 1865 and 1852, respectively. The parents moved from
their native State to Kentucky; thence to Camden County, Mo., in 1841,
where they engaged in farming. Five of their twelve children are now
living: Ambrose, Nelson, Franklin, Malinda and William. After residing
with his parents until twenty-one years of age, William Osborn started
out in life for himself as a farmer, and was married in 1852 to Miss
Elizabeth Nicholson, who was born in Georgia in 1831, and a daughter of
Isaac and Zena (Dawson) Nicholson, who were planters of Georgia, and
the parents of nine children. Previous to the war Mr. Osborn had shot
over 1,000 deer, principally for their hides, and many other animals
also fell victim to his skill as a marksman. In April, 1861, he
enlisted in the Osage Regiment of Missouri Home Guards, and was dis-
charged therefrom in December, 1861, after which he enlisted in 1862,
in the State Rangers, and was discharged in 1863. He re-enlisted on
August 16, 1863 in Company D, Eighth Missouri Cavalry, and was dis-
charged May 20, 1865, at Springfield, Mo., having participated in the
battles of Jefferson City, Boonville, Big Blue, Mine Creek, Indepen-
dence, Newtonia and others. After the war he followed farming until
1868, at which time he began merchandising at Lead Mine, Dallas County,
Mo., and went from there to Urbana, Mo., where he resided during 1878
and 1879. At the latter date he came to Mack's Creek, and established
himself in his present business, which has proved quite remunerative.
He belongs to the Christian Church, the Masonic fraternity and the
G. A. R., and his political views is a Republican, having cast his
first vote for Winfield Scott in 1852. The following are his children
who are living: Isaac, Franklin, William, Lucy A. (Harold), Malinda
(Bryant), Mary J. (Hack) and Matilda (Ricker). The paternal grand-
father, James, was a Virginian, and at an early day moved to Kentucky.
The maternal grandfather was Ambrose Bledsoe.
William J. Payne, postmaster and tobacco manufacturer at Zebra, Mo.,
was born in Bedford county, Va., in October, 1835, and is the son of
William and Nancy E. (Ashwell) Payne, both natives of Virginia, where
they passed their last days. The father was a tiller of the soil and
an honest, industrious citizen. His son, William J. Payne, was reared
and educated in Bedford county, Va., and was reared to farm life. At
the age of twenty-two he began to learn the tobacconist's trade, and
worked in a tobacco manufactory for some time. August 18, 1861, he
enlisted in Company I, Fifty-eighth Virginia Volunteer Infantry, and
served nearly four years. He was commissioned as a lieutenant of his
company, and came out in the same position. He was at the battles of
McDowell, Cross Keys, Winchester, Richmond, Front Royal, battle of
Wilderness, Fredericksburg, Spottsylvania and several other hard
engagements. He was wounded on June 27, 1863 by a grape-shot, and was
again wounded in 1865 by a gunshot. At the time of his first wound he
was permitted a leave of absence, and went to the rear. He served most
of his time as adjutant and drill master. At the close of the war he
went back home, and remained there until 1868, when he left, came west,
and in 1878 he was engaged in hauling ties and railroading. In 1879 he
married Miss Elizabeth Frazier, a native of Meigs county, Ohio, who
bore him one child, William H. In 1881 Mr. Payne moved to where he now
resides, in Camden County, Mo., and is the owner of 167 acres of land,
thirty acres under cultivation. He has made all the improvements,
having first settled in the brush when he could not see a man at a
distance of fifty yards. He is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, and
is an enterprising and much respected citizen.
Hiram L. Pease, dealer in general merchandise, and stock dealer at
Climax Springs, Mo., was born in Fremont, Ohio, January 25, 1860, and
is a son of John R. and Mary (Meade) Pease, who were born in Connecti-
cut and New Hampshire in 1805 and 1828, and died in Ohio in 1860 and
1873, respectively. They moved to the "Buckeye State" at an early day
and were there married and spent the remainder of their lives. The
father was a farmer and tinner, and was mayor of Fremont for some time.
He was twice married, and by his first wife became the father of one
child, and five by his second wife: John R., Edwin E., Helen (Merriam),
Francis, one deceased, and Hiram L. The maternal grandparents died in
New York and Ohio, at the ages of eighty-five and seventy-three,
respectively. Hiram L. Pease received his education in the schools of
Fremont, and also attended Blake's Preparatory School, at Gambier,
Ohio. When he attained his majority he began life for himself, and was
engaged in surveying real estate for six months, and in 1883 went to
Montana, where he followed the same occupation for some time, and then
returned to his native state. March 7, 1884 he came to Camden County,
Mo., where he has since been engaged in stock dealing, and in partner-
ship with B. F. Swindler established his present mercantile business at
Climax Springs, the firm being known as Pease & Swindler. December 1,
1888, he purchased Mr. Swindler's interest, and has since successfully
conducted the business alone. He carries a stock valued at about
$2,000 and besides this property owns eighty acres of land and live
stock valued at $1,000. He is a Republican in politics, and cast his
first presidential vote for Benjamin Harrison in 1888. He also belongs
to the I. O. O. F.